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Woman, 22, faces murder charges after stabbing

Police responded to incident early Monday morning

Lisheena Cantrell

From staff reports

Updated:
Sept. 5, 2011, 10:52 p.m.

A 22-year-old Gainesville woman has been charged with murder in the Monday stabbing death of a 26-year-old Gainesville man.

Police responded to the altercation between three people at Ridgecrest Apartments off Park Hill Drive about 1 a.m. Monday.

It is the second act of violence reported at the apartment complex in less than a week.

By the time police arrived at the scene, the victim, Eveccio Ballard, had already been taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by a friend. He later died at the hospital.

Police charged Lisheena Kinanna Cantrell with murder. She also faces battery charges stemming from the fight between Cantrell, Ballard and Tacheen Collins, also in her early 20s, that police say occurred in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

It is likely Cantrell will receive a first appearance in front of a judge at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Though most first hearings are held via video, those for homicides are normally held in the Hall County courthouse.

Lt. Carol Martin, commander of Gainesville’s Criminal Investigations Division, had few details to release to The Times Monday, citing the early stages of the murder investigation.

Martin could not say what the nature of the argument was.

Martin also could not say whether or not the three were residents of the apartment complex or visitors.

“We’re still following up with everybody that was hopefully in the area,” Martin said.

Cantrell had no injuries from the altercation and was booked Monday in the Hall County Detention Center.

Last week, Gainesville Police arrested 19-year-old Brandon Goss, alleging he fired shots into one of the units at Ridgecrest Apartments.

Goss was not a resident at the apartment complex and no one was injured in the incident.

Managers of the apartment complex could not be reached for comment Monday.

Martin said that incident is not related to Monday’s homicide.

Police are asking that anyone with information on Ballard’s death contact the Gainesville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 770-534-5254. Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact the department’s Tip Line at 770-533-5873.